Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies, a Seattle, Washington-based company, reported they had sent NASA a concept design for nuclear thermal propulsion engine. As part of a study on space flight, they designed a NTP with the aim of getting Mars in just three months for future space travel missions. It comes after NASA officials have said nuclear-powered systems will be required for further exploration into space.<\/p>\n
NTP systems use nuclear fission, power from splitting atoms, to create thrust, and are generally more efficient than existing chemical rockets.<\/p>\n
Michael Eades, principal engineer at USNC-Tech, issued a statement on the companys nuclear engine, touting it as even more reliable than other designs.<\/p>\n
He also claimed the companys NTP design has a specific impulse, referring to the amount of thrust from a propellant, more than twice that of chemical systems.\"<\/p>\n
Mr Eades added: We want to lead the effort to open new frontiers in space, and do it quickly and safely.<\/p>\n
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NTP systems have been looked at as promising ways to slash space travel time with heavier payloads than modern advanced rockets.<\/p>\n
Experts believe the systems will be able to halve the travel time to Mars, which is currently held to be seven months one way.<\/p>\n
Paolo Venneri, UNSC-Tech CEO, has claimed their design uses nuclear design aspects from reactor, and added: Key to USNC-Tech's design is a conscious overlap between terrestrial and space reactor technologies.<\/p>\n
\"This allows us to leverage the advancements in nuclear technology and infrastructure from terrestrial systems and apply them to our space reactors.\"<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The proposal followed NASA scientists and engineers admitting nuclear-powered engines were the next big step forward for space travel.<\/p>\n
Former NASA administrator Daniel Goldin recently argued \"it's time to grow up\" and go nuclear for future space exploration missions.<\/p>\n
In a statement, NASA said adopting NTP would save the company millions, and added: What if it costs less, carries more, and uses less fuel? This radical system is in-space electric propulsion.<\/p>\n
\"It can reduce the amount of fuel, or propellant, needed by up to 90 percent compared to chemical propulsion systems, saving millions in launch costs while providing greater missions flexibility.\"<\/p>\n
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It also follows companies eyeing up ways to make interplanetary travel more of a reality in the near-future.<\/p>\n
Elon Musks SpaceX have touted their Starship rocket as almost ready to start travelling to Mars.<\/p>\n
Mr Musk, CEO of the company, said in a conversation with Mars Society founder Robert Zubrin that SpaceX is on track to begin its first unmanned mission to Mars within four years time.<\/p>\n
He added, referring to a once-every-26-month period: \"I think we have a fighting chance of making that second Mars transfer window.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
An expert has also warned NASA are being challenge by China over being the dominant space power.<\/p>\n
Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, toldExpress.co.uk: The Chinese have made it very clear they intend to be a comprehensive space power, certainly by 2049. That is in their official statements.<\/p>\n
I think they're probably moving faster than that to try and achieve that goal.<\/p>\n
So we'll see how they go about that. It's not just the military side of things there, its also the civil and commercial side of things.<\/p>\n
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NASA breakthrough: Humans could travel to Mars in HALF the time after major development - Daily Express<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies, a Seattle, Washington-based company, reported they had sent NASA a concept design for nuclear thermal propulsion engine. As part of a study on space flight, they designed a NTP with the aim of getting Mars in just three months for future space travel missions Continue reading